Spill Clean up

Procedure

Date of Issue:

11.03.15

1. Purpose
The purpose of procedure is to ensure any chemical spills are cleaned up
appropriately. There are various steps that laboratory personnel can take in the
event of a laboratory spill. The laboratory worker may be able to respond to a small
contained lab spill. Laboratory workers should never put themselves in harms way. If
there is any doubt about the safety of the individual in the lab, immediately call 911.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services will notify the Hazmat Team
2. Scope
Written safe work procedures must be prepared for hazardous operations, including
chemicals, spill response, and workers must be adequately instructed in and follow
the procedures. Accidental release or spills of chemicals or other hazardous
substances must be controlled immediately, and cleaned up under the supervision of
persons knowledgeable in the hazards involved and the precautions to be taken
during the cleanup operations. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure
personal protective equipment required during emergency cleanup or escape is
immediately available.
If appropriate equipment and trained personnel are not available on site, the
clean-up should not proceed. Contact the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and
Risk Management Services for support.
3. Procedure
Once the risk of injuries has been controlled, the spill may be cleaned up and the
area decontaminated using the following general procedures:
1) Notify all personnel and the supervisor in the vicinity of the spill, of any
flammable, highly toxic or volatile material is spilled. Evacuate and post warnings
in the area if necessary.
2) If clothing has become contaminated, remove and enter emergency shower, if
eyes have been affected, flush eyes for 15 minutes.
NOTE: BE SURE CHEMICAL IS NOT WATER REACTIVE.

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Spill Clean up
Procedure
3) Before

Date of Issue:

11.03.15

responding to any spill the following information must be obtained:

Name of the chemical(s) involved.
Approximate quantity.
Hazards of the chemical (review MSDS if available):
o Flammability: flash point; vapour pressure
o Toxicity TLV
o Corrosiveness pH

4) Perform clean-up procedures only if:

a) The appropriate spill control material, equipment and protective clothing are
available.
b) Personnel are familiar with equipment and clean-up procedures.
c) More than one person is in the lab and available to participate. Work in
teams. One person cleans the spill; the other should remain outside of the
contaminated area and hand supplies to person cleaning.
d) There are no ignition sources present.
5) After reviewing the MSDS and assessing the hazards posed by the spill, establish
the appropriate clean-up procedure.
6) Determine the extent of evacuation required.
7) Gather the required equipment and materials. If the appropriate materials are
not available, call Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) for assistance.
8) Put on appropriate protective clothing, a minimum of rubber gloves, eye
protection and lab coat. Toxic, corrosive or irritating volatile materials will
require the use of a respirator. Ensure appropriate type of respirator and
cartridges are used. A full-face respirator is the minimum requirement for
volatile irritating, toxic or corrosive materials; if SCBA is required, call VFRS at
911.
9) Use a spill control material (unreactive, neutral, compatible material) to make a
dike to contain the spill and prevent it from spreading into a drain or under
furniture or equipment.
10) Mix the spill control compound with the spill, wait for any neutralizing/absorbent
reactions to be complete, and scoop the material into an impervious container.
11) Wash the affected area and PPE with an appropriate cleaning solution (soap and
water).

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Spill Clean up
Procedure

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12) Arrange for pick-up of the waste material by the Environmental Services Facility
(ESF) at 822-6306.
13) The responsible person must determine using the table in the UBC Spill
Reporting Procedures.
14) If the spill is reportable contact which agencies require notification.
15) Complete Incident/Accident forms and send to Risk Management Services, the
Department Head and Local Safety Committee.
16) For spills greater than 1L, and for highly flammable solvents, highly toxic or
corrosive materials, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services should be called (911)
for stand-by support.
In some cases specific procedures may be required to clean up the spill. Below are
procedures for:

Flammable solvents
Acids
Caustics
Hydrofluoric Acid
Perchloric Acid
Mercury

a. Flammable Solvents
Note: Never attempt to clean up a solvent spill if an ignition source is present
1) Apply solvent absorbent (Spill X-S, Solusorb or equivalent product) from the
perimeter inward, covering the total spill area.
2) Mix thoroughly with plastic scoops until material is dry and free flowing, and no
evidence of free liquid remains.
3) Transfer the absorbed solvent to an appropriate disposal container that is not
soluble in the solvent, and seal the container.
4) Contact the ESF at 822-6306 for directions concerning disposal of the container
and its contents.

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Procedure

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b. Acids
(except hydrofluoric acid and perchloric acid see below)
1) Apply acid neutralizer (Spill X-A, Neutrasorb or equivalent product) from the
perimeter of the spill, inward.
2) Carefully mix with brushes and scoops; if necessary, add more neutralizer to any
free acid.
3) When foaming subsides, check pH of a homogeneous sample of the mixture.
4) Test pH with pH paper (e.g. E.M. Quant Company available from BDH or
Anachemia Science).
5) If pH is not between 4 and 10, add more neutralizer.
6) When the acid has been sufficiently neutralized, pick up treated material with
scoops and transfer to a disposal container.
7) Seal container appropriately, and label.
8) Decontaminate and wash spill site surfaces with soapy water and wet sponge.
9) Contact the ESF at 822-6306 for directions concerning disposal of the bag and its
contents.
c. Caustics
1) Apply neutralizer for caustics (Spill X-C, Neutracit-2 or equivalent product) from
the perimeter of the spill, inward.
2) Carefully mix with brushes and scoops; if necessary, add more neutralizer to any
free base.
3) When foaming subsides, check pH of a homogeneous sample of the mixture.
4) Test pH with pH paper (e.g. E.M. Quant Company available from BDH or
Anachemia Science).
5) If pH is not between 4 and 10, add more neutralizer.
6) When the caustic has been sufficiently neutralized, pick up treated material with
scoops and transfer to a disposal bag container.
7) Seal container appropriately, and label.
8) Decontaminate and wash spill area surfaces with water and wet sponge.
9) Check with the ESF at 822-6306 for directions concerning disposal of the bag
and contents.

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Procedure

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d. Mercury (metallic) Spill

1) Report the spill to a supervisor; if necessary, contact HSE for further assistance.
2) Evacuate all personnel from area if spill is large, or room is small and ventilation
is poor.
3) Wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as lab coat, rubber, latex
or vinyl gloves, plastic boot protectors, splash goggles and half-mask respirator
with approved cartridge for mercury vapours
4) Ventilate area as much as possible; i.e. open all windows.
5) Mark off spill area with signs, barriers or tape.
6) Pool mercury using stiff paper or plastic sheet to carefully manoeuvre beads of
mercury into one large pool.
7) Shake off any mercury that clings to paper or plastic into a wide-mouth container
before being transferred with a funnel into a small, clean container.
8) Pick up mercury using a glass pipette with a rubber bulb OR a glass filter flask
equipped with a trap and a vacuum source such as a large rubber bulb, water
aspirator, vacuum tap or vacuum pump.
9) Transfer liquid mercury to glass (preferable) or plastic bottle of the smallest size
possible equipped with a tight fitting lid. Label 'Waste Mercury".
10) Decontaminate spill area by using one of the following methods:
a. Dust area of spill with sulfur powder, then sweep mercury/sulfur mixture into
wide-mouth jar equipped with tight fitting lid.
OR
b. Use zinc pieces (pre-rinsed in dilute hydrochloric acid) to act as magnets to
pick up mercury droplets, then place zinc/mercury pieces into wide-mouth jar
equipped with tight fitting lid. Label the wide-mouth jar: "Mercury/Clean-up
Materials.
11) The final clean-up steps include:
a. Cracks - spread sulphur or spray MERCONVAP solution into cracks and
leave as a cover to inhibit evaporation of any mercury that is not visible or
accessible.
b. Remove all personal protective equipment before leaving room
decontaminate or dispose of as Waste Mercury Materials.
c. Place all labelled mercury containers into a solid container and label
appropriately - i.e. 'Waste Mercury"' or "Mercury Clean-up Materials."
d. Contact the ESF at 822-6306 for directions concerning disposal.

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Spill Clean up
Procedure

Date of Issue:

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When placing a call to 911 or the Hazmat Team, provide the operator with:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Your name and phone extension.

Exact location of spill (building and room number).
Name of material spilled.
Quantity of material spilled.
Information on injuries to personnel

Off-campus locations, such as hospital sites, may have different phone numbers and
protocols.
If appropriate equipment and trained personnel are not available on site, the
clean-up should not proceed. Contact the Vancouver Fire and Rescue
Services and Risk Management Services for support.

END OF DOCUMENT

(a signed copy exists on file)

Approved:
Distribution:

Initiator:

Available to all Risk Management Services employees with authority to

access drive S:\Department\Policies & Procedures

Sonny Dhasi, March 15, 2011

Supervisor: Noga Levit, March 15, 2011

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